Mankind has been recording our history since the cave. Documenting history with photography is a more recent way to preserve memories.
Beginning with the daguerreotype in 1838 photography provided an important visual connection to our past. Failing to properly care for our photographs will break our connection with our family history.
Why do Photographs fade or Change Color?
Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and sunlight affect photographs more than any other factors. Being stored where there are dramatic variations in environment such as high heat and humidity followed by cold, dry weather are especially bad for photos and may cause cracking and separation of the picture from the backing. Dirt, dust, smoke, and oil are also damaging your precious memories.
What to Avoid Storing and Handling Your Photos
- Dirt, dust, and oils from you hands can cause permanent damage. You should handle prints and negatives along the edges and do not touch the surface, Historians will often wear white cotton gloves.
- The worst place to store photographs is in an un-insulated attic or basement. High temperatures and humidity in the summer and low temperatures and humidity in the winter can cause your photographs to become brittle and crack or possible separate from the backing. Dampness can cause photographs to stick together or develop mold. Insects and rodents, commonly found in basements, also like to feed on photos.
The best conditions for storing photographs are in a location with a consistent temperature from 65°F-70°F with a relative humidity of about 50%. These aren't always possible in a home environment, however, so if your photographs are especially important to you, you may want to consider storing them in a safe deposit box at your bank where the environment is controlled.
- Do not store your negatives or original CDs in the same place as your photographs. In the event of a fire or flood you will be able to reprint the images.
- There has been a lot of arguement back and forth about writing on your CDs and photograhs. If you must purchase a special felt tip designed for writing on the media. Most inks contain acids which will damage the prints or CDs over time. If you must mark a photo and don't have an acid-free photo marking pen available, then write lightly with a soft lead pencil on the back of the image. (Heavy emphasis on the lightly!)
- Do not use rubber bands or paper clips to hold photos together. They will damage thesurface.
- Do not display important photos in your home. Even if you frame it correctly the sunlight will cause your photo to fade. If you want to display a precious photo, then have a copy made and display the copy! When you are framing a photo you should us an acid free mat, UV resistant glass, and make sure the image does not touch the glass.
- Do not use glues (especially rubber cement) or scoth tapes to mend photographs or place them in albums or scrapbooks. Most glues contain substances such as sulfur and acids which will cause your photos to deteriorate. Use special photo-safe glues and tapes in the archival section of your favorite photo or craft store.
- Avoid exposing photographic materials to anything containing sulfur dioxide, fresh paint fumes, plywood, cardboard, and fumes from cleaning supplies.
- When placing photographs on the wall avoid sources of heat and humidity.
- When purchasing a photo album or storage container purchase quality products and use products that are specifically made photographic storage. . Standard envelopes, ziplock bags and other things commonly used for photo storage aren't always safe for photos. Use only lignin free, acid free, un
-buffered paper for storing photographs or as interleaving paper in albums. Use only PVC-free plastics such as Polyester, Mylar, Polypropylene, Polyethelyne and Tyvek.
- When having prints made or film developed do not go to an inexpensive photo developer for processing. It is important that the film is developed with fresh chemicals and that the negatives are washed sufficiently and only professionals usually provide these services. One hour labs are interested in speed and economy. Ask questions and make sure you get what you are paying for.
- True Black and White photography lasts longer than color. Prints made on fiber based paper can last several hundered years. If you are truly interested in genealogy you may want to have those preciosu prints made into B&W archival photographs. These prints will be there for future generations to enjoy.
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